A new report covering foster care trends among older children in the U.S. shows some improvements but critical achievement gaps remain.

The Baltimore-based Annie E Casey Foundation's report 'Fostering Youth Transitions 2023 showed over the last 15 years, the number of teenagers in foster care has fallen by about half, and fewer young people are placed in institutional settings such as group homes.

Educational attainment was also highlighted with the report, showing 79% of youth in the foster care system earned a high school diploma or GED by the time they aged out of the system at 21, compared to 92% of their peers in the general population.

Many states offer extended foster care for youths between 18 and 21, and the report found better educational outcomes among those who use extended foster care.

Todd Lloyd, senior policy associate for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said advocates are encouraging states to promote the practice.

"So we really encourage states to consider ways that they can encourage young people to remain in foster care after the age of 18 if they don't have a permanent family," Lloyd explained. "But we've seen nationally that the utilization of extended foster care after the age of 18 is actually very low."

The report data from 2021 showed only 22% of those in foster care on their 18th birthday remained in foster care on their 19th birthday. In Maryland, the number was far higher, with 52% still in foster care at age 19.

Despite the reduction in the overall number of teens in foster care in the U.S., the report found agencies were not better able to deliver services to help with the transition to adulthood to the smaller population. Transition services include educational financial assistance, vocational training, K-12 academic support, as well as mentoring and life skills training.

Lloyd added the report found few teens are receiving the federally funded services for which they are eligible.

"Even though there are fewer young people in foster care, less than half of young people who are eligible will ever receive services to support their transition to adulthood," Lloyd pointed out. "In a given year, less than a quarter who are eligible actually receive any services."

While Maryland saw above average numbers of teens in foster care receiving educational financial assistance and room and board support, critical areas such as vocational training, life skills, mentoring and K-12 academic support all saw percentages participating in the single digits.

The report found the reasons teens enter the foster care system are also changing. In 2006 "behavior problems" were cited in 49% of cases, while in 2021 it was down to 30%. "Neglect" is now the most common reason for placing children in the foster care system, cited in 48% of cases in 2021.

Lloyd contended it suggests with a greater application of state support, more families might be able to stay together.

"The issues of neglect are often related to economic security," Lloyd observed. "The hope is that child welfare agencies can work with families to help them remediate those issues of economic challenge and provide the kind of concrete supports that they need to address those concerns."

Everybody loves to get something free and right now, kids aged 12-17 can get a fishing and hunting license at no cost from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

The license is good for one year and normally sells for $15.

Bobby Jones, outdoor connection coordinator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said the free licenses are funded by donations to the Nevada Youth License Fund.

"This is actually the third year that the program's been active," Jones explained. "We keep it open as much as possible. We're just limited by the amount of donations that we have. Right now, we have almost 2,000 available and they go fast."

Youth can get a free license on the Nevada Department of Wildlife website or wherever the licenses are sold. Children under age 12 do not need a fishing license. The state said almost two-thirds of the kids who have taken advantage of the program in the past have never had a hunting or fishing license before.

Jones emphasized the program is designed to tempt kids to leave the digital world behind for a short time and enjoy some time outdoors. It could lead them to even consider a nature-based career like wildlife biology, forest management or outdoor education.

"Essentially what we're up against is a lot of kids are engaged in their phones and social media, TV," Jones pointed out. "They're constantly bombarded with things. We're trying to make it a little bit easier for them to enjoy the outdoors."

Some of the most popular fishing spots include Lahontan in the Fallon area, Wild Horse and South Fork in Eastern Nevada, and Lake Mead down south.


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The University of Nebraska is addressing a shortage of lawyers who represent the state's most vulnerable children, especially in rural areas.

The attorneys are being equipped to work with kids who have suffered through physical, emotional, or financial trauma - and are often living in poverty.

Of Nebraska's 5,500 licensed attorneys, only 7% of them practice in rural areas.

Michelle Paxton, director of the Nebraska Children's Justice and Legal Advocacy Center, said two thirds of child neglect and abuse cases originate outside the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas, in what she calls "rural legal deserts."

"We have twelve counties in Nebraska with zero attorneys living in those counties," said Paxton. "We have 22 with less than three."

Paxton said that there are too few qualified rural child justice attorneys, which means lawyers may drive hundreds of miles for juvenile cases, creating delays and court backlogs.

The University of Nebraska program will add lawyers trained to handle issues unique to children in low-income families.

Attorneys who work on juvenile court cases are getting the tailored knowledge they need, but Paxton added that the program is also creating an opportunity for those attorneys to network and get support from other lawyers in the field - who are often isolated.

"And so they don't often have another attorney doing this type of work that they can rely on for support and mentorship," said Paxton, "and our program provides that support and mentorship so that they are not only willing to continue working in juvenile court, increase their hours in juvenile court and increase their commitment. "

The advocacy center will also develop a case-tracking tool, enabling people to find an attorney online.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.



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Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger.

Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the Summer Food Service Program offered by the Houston Food Bank. The meals are distributed across the food bank's 18-county region.

Jourdan Stansberry, senior manager of education programs for Houston Food Bank, said they partner with summer camps, churches and other nonprofit organizations to serve the students. She added anyone who is not near a meal site can take advantage of their non-congregate option.

"Sites that are considered rural by the Texas Department of Agriculture," Stansberry explained. "It's a grab-and-go model where families can pick up the meals, It's like a five-day bundle of frozen meals, breakfast and snacks, so 10 meals all together. They're able to pick it up and take it home."

Locations of the meal sites in the Houston area and across Texas are available at the Department of Agriculture's Summer Meal Site Map. The meals are available to anyone 18 years old or younger or students with a disability, up to 21 years old.

The meals are distributed at more than 250 sites around the Houston area. Students do not have to register to take advantage of the meals. Stansbury emphasized it is a great way to ensure kids have access to fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer. She added the menus consist of more than just a sandwich and chips.

"One thing that I know has been pretty popular is our orange chicken with rice, and we also have broccoli, vegetable-medley side that goes along with that. We saw also chicken tikka masala," Stansbury outlined. "We try to expose them to different meals, not only healthwise but also culturally."

The Houston Food Bank expects to distribute around 800,000 meals this summer. The meal program runs through Aug. 8.


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